The Mystery Duelist
As Solomon was sweeping the yard, Tea and Mai walked up to him, having come to pick up Yugi. "Good morning, Mr. Moto." Tea said with a smile.
"Good to see you again." Mai said while having her arm around Tea.
"Hello, Tea. Hello, Mai, good morning. Yugi's upstairs getting ready. I'll call him for you." Solomon greeted with a smile. "Would you like me to get you both something to drink?"
"No thanks, we're already late." Tea answered.
Solomon then called out to his grandson. "Yugi, Tea and Mai are here!"
Meanwhile, in Yugi's bedroom
Yugi had just replaced the rope with a chain for his puzzle and was pleased with it. "I'll be right there, grandpa!" He called out before thinking to himself. 'This new chain outta keep my Millennium Puzzle safe. Seems like everyone wants their hands on it lately.'
That was when Yami appeared beside him. "And we're going to need it now more than ever."
"We are?" Yugi asked. "Well, what do you mean by that?"
"The Millennium Puzzle connects us, Yugi, and I sense fate has more in store for us." Yami answered.
"Well, we're in this together, no matter what." Yugi said as he got his book bag and headed to the door.
"Good. Because our future is still unclear to me."
"Well, I'll help you figure it out." Yugi said before he headed out and met Tea and Mai.
"Well, that took you long enough." Mai said while she crossed her arms.
Yugi gave a shrug. "Sorry, Mai and Tea,"
"We're gonna be late for the big game. What took you so long?" Tea asked Yugi.
He stated while holding his Millennium Puzzle. "I... I was talking to the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. He seems kind of worried."
"Really?" Mai raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"About the future, I think." Yugi answered. "He said something about our destiny being... unclear. Ever since we defeated Pegasus together, the spirit has been talking about fate, like there's something more he has to do."
This made both Tea and Mai intrigued but also worried of what has been troubling Yami Yugi that much.
"When you think about it, he doesn't really know that much about himself. Like where he came from or why he's here." Then Yugi figured they were gonna be late cause he'd been talking this much. "But I'm babbling and we're late. We should go."
Mai and Tea both smiled. "Oh right, the soccer game. We definitely don't want to miss it." Tea nodded.
All 3 said their goodbyes to Solomon. "Bye Mr. Muto." Tea and Mai said simultaneously.
"Bye grandpa. See you later." Yugi added.
"Enjoy yourselves," Solomon said before going back to sweep the doorstep of his shop, but then added. "If the game ends early, feel free to come back and help me sweep!"
A bit later
While they were walking to school, they talked. "So, who do you think is going to win?"
"Who?" Yugi asked.
"Earth to Yugi. The soccer game at yours and Tea's school." Mai reminded him. "Personally, I don't care, as long as I get to spend time with my beautiful Tea."
"Same here, baby." Tea said with a smile before they shared a brief kiss. "But then again, Yugi doesn't really care who wins either." She said with a knowing smile.
But that was when a voice spoke out, getting Yugi's attention. "Futures told, fates unfold." A cloaked and hooded man said before seeing Yugi. "Step up, boy, and I'll reveal the secrets of your future." And making the young boy walk up to him.
"Huh? Yugi?" Tea asked as she and Mai both stopped.
"What's up?" Mai asked as she and her girlfriend/lover before they walked beside him.
"Can you really see into the future?" Yugi asked.
"Of course." The man answered.
"What are you doing, Yugi?" Tea asked.
"Hey, guys, maybe this fortune teller can help me figure out the fate of the spirit inside the puzzle." Yugi said with a smile.
Tea smiled. "Okay, but we really don't have that much time."
But Mai was suspicious. "I'm not sure about this. Fortune telling is cool, but it's usually a hoax for money and it doesn't always work, if ever."
The cloaked man looked at the Millennium Puzzle and told him. "Boy, in order to tell you about your future, I must 1st hold a personal item."
"Really?" Yugi asked.
"Your necklace will do nicely." The man said while holding out his hand.
"What? No, I can't." Yugi said while holding his Millennium Puzzle.
"Then I can't tell your fortune. I need it in order to properly read your aura, to see what fate has in store for you." The man said. "You do want to know, don't you? Your fate?"
It didn't take long for Yugi to answer. "Okay. But only for a second." He said as he handed the Millennium Puzzle to the man.
It was at this point, Mai got really suspicious and warned Yugi. "Yugi, you shouldn't do it. This guy here's obviously a fake. Believe me, I've seen guys like him only do this to con people for money or valuable items."
But Yugi did so anyway before the man said. "Something's coming to me. I sense that this Millennium item now belongs…to me!" Before standing up and pushing the table and the 3 friends over.
"My Millennium Puzzle!" Yugi yelled out as they fell on their butts and the man ran into the alley. "Get back here!"
"He's getting away. What do we do?" Tea asked after Mai helped her up.
Yugi ran after the man as he answered. "I'll follow him, you guys try to cut him off around the corner!"
"You got it, Yugi!" Mai said before she and her girlfriend and lover ran.
"You won't get away with this, you creep!" Yugi yelled while saying to himself mentally. 'Mai was right! I can't believe I let him hold my Millennium Puzzle.' Before he stopped when he got to a corner and saw arrows pointing in specific directions. "Arrows? He wants me to follow him. This is obviously a trap, but what choice do I have? I can't lose the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle. I won't!"
Meanwhile, in the city
Tea and Mai were running through the streets, trying to find the mysterious thief but couldn't see him anywhere. "There's no sign of that thief anywhere. I hope Yugi's okay."
"Me too, baby. But I warned him not to hand over his puzzle." Mai said with a bit of disappointment.
But while they were running, in their focus to find the thief, they didn't notice that they ran past Bakura, who called out to them. "Tea! Mai, what's the rush?"
The 2 lovers stopped and turned around. "Bakura! Someone stole Yugi's Millennium Puzzle."
"No. Where is Yugi?" Bakura asked with concern.
"Down the alley! Yugi and us split up to catch the guy." Mai answered.
"Well then don't let me detain you both. Keep looking and I'll get some help." Bakura told them.
"Right. Thanks, Bakura!" Mai and Tea said together before running again.
But that was when Yami Bakura took over. 'No 1 shall have the Millennium Puzzle but me.' He thought before speaking out loud. "I want its power." He said before dropping Bakura's bag and getting out the Millennium Ring. "And I'll track it down with my Millennium Ring." Before he turned around and held up the Millennium item as it pointed in the direction of the Millennium Puzzle. "Show me the way. Track down its mystical energies and lead me to the Millennium Puzzle. If I control all the items, I'll control unimaginable power. And I will make certain that nobody stands in my way."
Yami Bakura then followed the direction of the Millennium Puzzle's energy through the ring all the way back to where it was taken from Yugi. 'Which way, Ring, which way?' He asked before the Ring pointed into the alley. 'Ah, yes. Yugi and his Millennium Puzzle are very close. Very close.' He thought with an evil smile before going into the alley and seeing the arrows. 'Sorry, Tea and Mai, but I can't have you and your sniveling friends interfering with my destiny.' He thought as he began switching the arrows in different directions as he continued on.
Meanwhile, with Yugi
The boy duelist followed the arrows to an abandoned warehouse in an abandoned part of town. "Where are you hiding?!" Yugi called out. "Whoever that guy is, he's leading me like a rat through a maze. But why would a thief want his victim to follow him? What's he really after?" He asked before seeing the last arrow on the gate. "The last arrow." He said before opening the door and entering the warehouse. "My Millennium Puzzle is here. And though we're apart, I can sense it. But I don't see it." He then called out. "I know you're in here!"
"Hahahahaha. Congratulations, little Yugi, you found me. Or should I say…I found you." The thief asked before a light came on, revealing the Millennium Puzzle. "And the Millennium Puzzle."
"Give it back to me."
"It's not going to be that easy for you, Yugi. If you want it back, you'll have to fight me for it." The thief told him. "That's right, Yugi, you and I are going to duel! And the winner gets to keep your Millennium item."
A light then shined on Yugi, making him cover his eyes before he looked and saw a dueling arena." A dueling arena?"
"Are you up to the challenge, Yugi? I've been waiting for you a long time. Hahahahaha." The cloaked thief asked with an evil laugh.
"Who are you?" Yugi asked with confusion. "And what do you want with my Millennium Puzzle?"
"I desire the power your Millennium item contains within." The cloaked man answered. "But according to the rules of its ancient magic, I have to win it from you in a duel."
But unknown to Yugi, someone from far away, welding another Millennium item, was speaking through the man, as he was possessing him. "As for who I am: let's just say that I'm the 1 who shall control your destiny, as I have controlled others. And that I am not unfamiliar with the power of a Millennium item. Indeed I understand more about their hidden mysteries than you will ever know. Take your Millennium Puzzle. There are ancient secrets buried within it, of which you or the spirit that inhabits it are unaware. That's why I will add it to my collection."
"I won't duel you for my Millennium Puzzle, it already belongs to me." Yugi told him.
"It's in my possession now, little Yugi." The possessed man countered.
"Fine! Then I accept your challenge." Yugi said with determination.
"Of course you do." The possessed man said before going to his platform.
Yugi talked mentally while looking at the Millennium Puzzle. 'If I have to duel, I'll need the spirit of my Millennium Puzzle to help me. Maybe I can still connect with him.'
But Yami said to him. "I can barely hear you, Yugi. Our bond is weak. It's hard to maintain contact. I'm afraid I won't be able to help you with this duel. You'll have to fight him alone."
"But I've never fought a duel without you. And if I'm defeated, I'll lose you forever." Yugi said mentally with great concern.
"You can defeat him. Just trust yourself and your deck, and you'll find the way." Yami said with confidence in his friend.
That was what Yugi needed. "You're right! I have to believe in the Heart of the Cards." Be said before getting on his dueling platform.
"Be careful, Yugi. I sense a great evil." Yami said before his contact was broken.
As the dueling area activated, the possessed man said with overconfidence. "Prepare to lose your precious puzzle."
"I don't think so!" Yugi said bravely.
"Remember, Yugi: I've seen your future, foretold your fate, and this duel will be your last." The possessed man said with evil.
'I don't know anything about this duelist and now I have to face him alone for the highest stakes ever. I don't even have the gang to back me up. Well, here goes.' Yugi mentally said before picking a card from his deck. "It's time to duel!" Before he placed his 1st monster on the field. "I place the Celtic Guardian on the field in attack mode." He said before his monster came to life, with an attack power of 1400 and a defense power of 1200. "I've made my play, now you make yours."
"I place my monster in defense mode." The man said before doing just that.
"What's the matter? Don't you have the courage to face me head-on?" Yugi asked his opponent.
"I don't have to. You're the 1 who'd better go on the offensive, if you wanna win back your puzzle." The possessed man said.
Yugi picked up another card from his deck and said. "All right, I attack with my Celtic Guardian!"
But the possessed man grinned. "That's exactly what I wanted you to do, Yugi. Your attack has activated…the power of my Cyber Jar." He revealed before the Cyber Jar, which had 900 attack points and equal defense points, appeared, much to Yugi's surprise. "This machine destroys every monster on the field." He said before Celtic Guardian was destroyed along with Cyber Jar itself! "And it also requires us to draw 5 new cards." Before he and Yugi did just that. "Let's see what you've got up your pathetic little sleeve this time, little Yugi."
'Time for a new strategy.' Yugi said mentally before placing a card face down in defensive mode. "I'm placing my monster in defense mode."
"And I'm placing mine in attack mode. Meet Mechanicalchaser and Ground Attacker Bugroth." The possessed man said before Mechanicalchaser, which had an attack power of 1850 and a defense power of 800, and Ground Attacker Bugroth, which had an attack power of 1500 and an defense power of 1000, appeared on the field.
Yugi thought to himself as he saw the machine monsters. 'More machine cards. Wait, this seems familiar. There's only 1 player I know who's deck is filled with machine cards!' Before he realized who the mysterious man was. "Show yourself, Bandit Keith!" He told him before the man took off his hood, revealing that he was in fact Bandit Keith. 'I was right! But why would Bandit Keith disguise himself and steal my Millennium Puzzle? The last time I saw him was when Joey beat him at the Duelist Kingdom tournament. He broke the rules, but Joey beat him. When Pegasus found out Keith was cheating, he ejected him from the island. He never saw him again after that.' Before he asked the now revealed Bandit Keith. "What happened to you?"
But Keith's possessor corrected Yugi. "I'm not Bandit Keith. I only speak through him since he's become my mind-controled slave."
"What do you mean? How can this be? Tell me!"
Keith's possessor then explained. "After Bandit Keith was ejected by Pegasus from the Duelist Kingdom tournament, he fought for his life against the harsh ocean waters. My followers and I were on the way to retrieve some very special items when we fished him out of the sea. I'm always looking for a new mind to control, so Bandit Keith seemed like the perfect puppet to do my bidding. And, as fate would have it, my led me right to you: the boy who possesses the legendary Millennium Puzzle. Is it all sinking in now, little Yugi? Now that I've found you after all these years, I will stop at nothing to make your Millennium Puzzle and the ancient power within it my own."
But that was when Keith regained control of his mind for a moment. "Help me."
But his possessors told him inside his mind. "You'll never free yourself, Keith." Before he spoke through Keith again. "Let the duel continue. I play Machine King in attack mode." Before Machine King, who had an attack power of 2200 and a defense power of 2000, appeared on the field. "My new monster gets an extra 100 attack points for every machine that's on the field. That's 300 more points." He said as Machine King's attack power went up to 2500!" Machine King, attack with jet punch!" Before it did just that, firing its right arm at Yugi's monster, revealed to be Silver Fang, which had an attack power of 1200 and a defense power of 800, and destroying it before the arm went back! "You may as well give up now."
"It's not over yet!" Yugi said before placing another card face down in defense mode. "I play another card in defense mode."
"Your defenses are useless against my mechanical army." Possessed Keith said before he drew another card. "Especially since I'm adding this machine to my troop." And played it, revealing it to be Megasonic Eye, which had an attack power of 1500 and a defense power of 1800. "Megasonic Eye." And it adds another 100 points to Machine King, making him even more deadly." He said as Machine King's attack power went up to 2600. "Machine King, attack now!" Before Machine King fired his arm again, this time with spikes, destroying Yugi's face down monster, revealed to be the Giant Soldier of Stone, which had an attack power of 1300 and a defense power of 2000!
"No! My Stone Soldier!" Yugi said with concern.
"That's right. All your defenses are gone." Possessed Keith said. "Give up yet? You've no idea the power you're up against, little Yugi."
But Yugi was determined to win. 'No matter who this guy is, I can't let him win. But how can I defeat him without the spirit and my friends?'
Meanwhile, at Domino high school
After Tea and Mai told Joey and Tristan everything that happened, the boys got their shoes on and headed to help Yugi with the 2 lovers but the soccer coach stopped them, as Joey and Tristan said that they would help with the game today. But Mai and Tea convinced him to let them go with a little sympathy act about Tea's cat Fluffy being sick, which he bought before letting them go.
Meanwhile, back with Yugi
"Come on, Yugi, stop stalling, unless you wanna admit defeat." The possessed Keith said with overconfidence.
"I'll never give up!" Yugi said with determination.
'Foolish boy. He has no idea of the power he's up against. His Millennium Puzzle is as good as mine.' The man possessing Keith thought to himself.
"I have too much at stake in this game, so take this." Yugi said before he drew his Curse of Dragon, which had an attack power of 2000 and a defense power of 1500. "I play Curse of Dragon in attack mode. And I play Gaia The Fierce Knight." Yugi said before the dragon monster and Gaia, which had an attack power of 2300 and a defense power of 2100, appeared on the field. "But that's not all." Yugi said before drawing his next card: the Polymerization magic card. "I also use my Polymerization card to combine these 2 monsters in order to create…Gaia the Dragon Champion!" Before the monsters fused together to make the combined monster, which had an attack power of 2600 and a defense power of 2100! "This monster can take your machines apart. Dragon Champion, attack Mechanicalchaser!" Yugi told his new combined monster before it did just that, destroying Mechanicalchaser and dropping Machine King's attack power back to 2500 and dropping the possessed Keith's life points down to 1250! "With Mechanicalchaser gone, Machine King loses 100 attack points and you lose 750 life points."
"Very impressive, but what will you do when I put my weaker monsters in defense mode to protect them from your Dragon Champion's attacks?" The possessed Keith asked before his weaker monster went into defense mode. "And then activate Machine Conversion Factory: a magic card that adds 300 attack and defense points to all of my machine cards?" He added before doing just that before his monsters' attack and defense points increased by 300, with Machine King's attack power going up to 2800 and his defense power going up to 2300 while Ground Attacker Bugroth's attack power went up to 1800 and his defense power up to 1300 and Megasonic Eye's attack power went up to 1800 and his defense power went up to 2000!
"Oh no! You've raised Machine King's power even more!" Yugi said with worry.
"That's right, enough to overpower your Dragon Champion." Possessed Keith said before telling his monster. "Machine King, attack!" Before Machine King fired both his arms at the Dragon Champion, destroying it and dropping Yugi's life points down to 1800! "Your offensive is over, Yugi. Your champion is destroyed. I've made Keith's machine monster's attack power overwhelming."
"So why don't you just give up and hand over your Millennium Puzzle to me?" The man possessing Keith asked with an evil smile. "It's the inevitable conclusion to our game anyway."
'What am I going to do? I have to stop him somehow. But how? He's assembled an army of the most rare and powerful machines in Duel Monsters.' Yugi said mentally before drawing his next card, revealed to be the Summoned Skull. 'The Summoned Skull! This gives me an idea. But 1st I'll have to play a magic card.' Before he spoke out loud. "Your machines might be the most impressive I've seen, but they're still made out of metal." He then played the magic card: Makiu, the Magical Mist. "So I play Makiu!" Before the magic card took effect on the field.
But the possessed Keith wasn't worried. "You think a little mist will destroy my machines?"
"It won't destroy them, but it will cause them to rust and lower their points." Yugi said before the magic card did just that, rusting the machines to where they were almost nothing and lowering their attack and defense points. "And the mist turns your machines into 1 gigantic lightning rod. Which makes them the perfect target for my Summoned Skull." He said before playing 1 of his most powerful monsters to the field, with Summoned Skull attack power increased to 3250 due to the mist's effect. "Summoned Skull, use your lightning to attack Machine King now." Before Summoned Skull destroyed Machine King with his lightning attack, dropping possessed Keith's life points down to 500. "Any more machines for the scrap yard?"
"You little…" Possessed Keith said with a bit of anger.
'The boy is good. He plays much better than I had expected without the spirit of the Millennium Puzzle to aid him, but he has no idea of the power he's up against. My deck is full of rare monsters the likes of which he's never seen. And when I'm through with him, his Millennium Puzzle will be mine.' The man possessing Keith thought evilly.
Meanwhile
Tea, Mai, Joey and Tristan got to the alley as Joey asked Mai and Tea. "So, they went running down this alley?"
"Uh huh." Tea answered.
Joey then saw the arrows. "These arrows. You think Yugi put them here for us?"
"No, that thief obviously did to lure Yugi into a trap." Mai said, hitting the nail on the head.
"Hey, look at that." Tristan said as he noticed the switched around arrows.
"Oh no. How are you gonna find him?" Tea asked.
"I don't know, but we'll find a way, baby. Promise." Mai assured her girlfriend and lover.
Meanwhile, back with Yugi
"Now you're the 1 who's stalling. Are you gonna draw or what?" Yugi asked.
Possessed Keith then drew his next card, which was the Graceful Charity magic card. "I've picked the Graceful Charity card. By placing this card on the table, I'm able to draw 3 new cards from my deck." He said before secretly drawing 3 cards from a device under his cloak, thereby cheating. "And I'm confident that they'll be exactly the cards I need to win this duel once and for all. Hahaha." Before he put the cards in his deck and made it look like he drew them. "You're finished, little Yugi. I've drawn the ultra rare Zera Ritual card. It's used to summon the most powerful monsters in the game." He said before Zera appeared on the field.
"Whoa. I've never even heard of the Zera Ritual card before, but I've got a bad feeling that I'm about to learn more about it than I really want to know." Yugi said with worry.
"How perceptive. For once I put Zera Ritual into play, this duel is over." Possessed Keith said.
"Maybe. But activating a Ritual card takes more than just talk. You also need to have the right monster card in your hand, and what are the odds of that?" Yugi asked... before the possessed Keith held up a monster card that shocked him. "No way!"
"Maybe you finally understand the power you are up against, Yugi." Possessed Keith said before playing his monster card, Zera the Mant, which had an attack power of 2800 and a defense power of 2300. "Now, Zera Ritual sacrifices my 2 remaining monsters in order to bring forth the greatest of my creatures. Behold the instrument of your destruction, 1 of the most powerful beats in Duel monsters: Zera the Mant." Before the monster appeared on the field after the 2 machine monsters were sacrificed. "Our battle ends here. Say goodbye to your Millennium Puzzle." He said before telling his newly summoned monster. "Zera, attack now!" Making Zera do just that, easily destroying Summoned Skull and dropping Yugi's life points down to 1500!
"Zera obliterated my Summoned Skull, but I can't give up." Yugi said, still determined to win. "You'll never get my Millennium Puzzle!"
Meanwhile, outside
Yami Bakura had finally arrived at the destination where his Millennium Ring led him. 'So, my Millennium Ring has led me here. The puzzle must be inside.' He said mentally before sensing something. 'Hmmm.. I also sense a dark presence from the Shadow Realm.' Before speaking out loud. "Gaining control of the Millennium Puzzle should be more interesting than I thought."
Back inside
The man that was possessing Keith thought with overconfidence. 'You're finished, little Yugi. With Bandit Keith under my mind control, you'll never win this duel.'
But Keith was still trying to resist the mind control. "Help me…help me."
'Keith, your resistance is futile. It's time for me to end this duel and take what's mine.'
Yugi looked at his Millennium Puzzle while thinking to himself. 'What am I going to do now? I have nothing to fight his monster with. If only I could call on the spirit and ask for his help, but we've lost contact.'
But the man possessing Keith was confident. 'I think Yugi's starting to figure out it's hopeless. He will fall against my superior monsters, and the Millennium Puzzle will be in my control!'
'I've got to figure out how to get control of this duel, and win back my Millennium Puzzle. I just wish I didn't have to do it all alone. Sur could use my friends right about now.' Yugi thought with concern.
"Make your move, Yugi, it's all over anyway." Possessed Keith said. "You're just prolonging your defeat. It's quite pathetic actually. Stare at your deck all you want, there's not a single monster in there that can take on my powerful Zera the Mant. This duel is over."
Yugi drew his next card, which was a monster card that he knew wouldn't be able to stand against Zera. 'Koumori Dragon. He's right, he's not strong enough to attack Zera.' He thought before placing it face down in defense mode. "I place a monster in defense mode. Now it's your move."
The man who was possessing Keith thought with confidence. 'I knew it. His deck is weak. Just like a rodent caught in the coils of a rattlesnake, little Yugi doesn't stand a chance. He may have beaten Bandit Keith at Duelist Kingdom, but he will find that dueling me will be a more difficult challenge.'
Possessed Keith then drew his next card and played it. "1st I play Seiyaryu in attack mode." He said before his monster, which had an attack power of 2500 and a defense power of 2300. "And for my next move…" He said before he secretly used the mechanical claw under his cloak to swap Ground Attacker Bugroth with Magic Jammer. "I place this card face down."
'I'll unleash its wrath when the time is right.' The man possessing Keith thought.
"And now, last but not least, Stop Defense.' Possessed Keith said before playing the Stop Defense magic card. "It forces the card you played in defense mode to switch to attack mode." Before the magic card did just that, revealing the Koumori Dragon and switching him to attack mode.
"My Koumori Dragon!"
"Is revealed. And now since it's in attack mode, I can destroy it." Possessed Keith said before telling his monster. "Zera the Mant, attack now!" Before Zera easily destroyed the Koumori Dragon, dropping Yugi's life points down to 400! "The end is near, little Yugi."
"And with it will come anew beginning: my beginning. For soon, I will be the keeper of that Millennium Puzzle."
Yugi became greatly worried at this point as he looked at his Millennium Puzzle. 'There's no way I'm letting this mind-controlling freak get his hands on my puzzle.' He thought before speaking out loud. "This duel's not over, whoever you are, I'll never give up." Before he then drew his next card and placing it face down in defense mode. "I'm placing a monster in defense mode."
"Your defenses bore me." Possessed Keith said before telling Seiyaryu. "Seiyaryu, attack with Razor Flare Blast!" Before Seiyaryu did just that, destroying Yugi's face down monster, revealed to be the Mystical Elf. "I'll also place 2 more cards on the field." He said before doing just that by placing them face down. "And switch Zera the Mant to defense mode. Confused? This move will become clear to you soon enough."
Yugi looked at the cards in his hand and thought to himself. 'Now this is more like it.' Before making his next move. "This card face down, and Dark Magician in defense mode." He said before the Dark Magician, which had an attack power of 2500 and a defense power of 2100. "And finally, I play Magical Hats to hide him." Before the hat appeared, hid the Dark Magician under it and made 3 more hats. "Now you'll have to find my Dark Magician in order to attack him."
"Wish I'd seen that coming. Oh wait I did." Possessed Keith said before making his move. "So I'll play Magic Jammer." Before sacrificing a card from his hand. "Sorry, Yugi, but once I sacrifice a card from my hand, Magic Jammer allows me to disable your magic card. Say goodbye to your Magical Hats and hello to your Dark Magician." He said before Magic Jammer disabled the Magical Hats and revealed the Dark Magician.
"Oh no, my Dark Magician's exposed!" Yugi said, knowing that this was not good.
Possessed Keith then played his next face down card. "And now I'll play this: it's a magic card called Curse of Fiend, Yugi. It forces our monsters to switch from whatever mode they're in to the opposite. So therefore, all monsters in attack mode go into defense mode and vice versa. Since I put Zera in defense mode before, it switches to attack mode now. And so does your Dark Magician." He said before all the monsters did just that. "Zera, attack now!" Before Zera did just that.
But Yugi was ready this time and played his face down card: Mirror Force. "Nice try, but now I activate Mirror Force. It reflects Zera's attack right back at you." He said before the attack was reflected.
But possessed Keith was ready for that as he played his own trap card. "I'll block your reflection with a little Solemn Judgment." Before the trap card negated the attack!
"No way! How did you block my Mirror Force reflection?" Yugi asked with surprise.
"Solemn Judgment is another 1 of my rare and powerful cards. I have to give up half of my life points to use it, but in exchange, I'm allowed to remove the last card my opponent played." Possessed Keith explained. "Your Mirror Force is shattered." Before Dark Magician was destroyed when the mirror force was shattered, allowing Zera's attack to hit its intended target and dropping Yugi's life points down to 100 while possessed Keith's went down to 250. "It may have cost me 750 life points, but that's a small price to pay. Because now, little Yugi, I'm 1 attack away from winning your puzzle."
Meanwhile, outside
'I know the Millennium Puzzle is somewhere beyond those doors, but my Ring is sensing stronger mystical energies than it's ever sensed before; dark energies from the Shadow Realm.' Yami Bakura thought before he went inside and got to the upper walkway. 'I'm getting closer, I can feel it.' He thought before seeing what was happening below him. 'What's this, a dueling arena? They're battling for the Millennium Puzzle.'
Yugi reached for the next card to drew as he spoke mentally. 'Ok. Come on, deck, I believe in you. I know you'll come through for me.' Before he drew his next cards and smiled. 'Yes.' Before placing it face down. "I'm placing this magic card face down and a monster in defense mode. Now, let's see what you've got."
"You'll regret those words, little Yugi. You may have gotten this far, but my patience is growing thin. It's time to end this duel and claim the power that is mine." The man possessing Keith said.
"You'll never get my Millennium Puzzle."
Possessed Keith then secretly swapped a card in his hand with the device under his cloak with a magic card. "Guess again. Tribute to The Doomed." He said, making Yugi gasp.
"Whoa. That's 1 of the rarest magic cards in the game." The boy duelist said with surprise.
"Very perceptive, little Yugi. Tribute to The Doomed is 1 of my personal favorites." Possessed Keith said before explaining what the card did. "It allows me to destroy any monster you have on the field." Before a mummy monster tried to use its bandages to ensnare Yugi's face down monster.
But Yugi was ready this time. "Better think again." He said before revealing his magic card: the Living Arrow and playing it.
"It can't be." Possessed Keith said with disbelief.
"It is. The Living Arrow, which takes any magic attack aimed at me and fires it right back at you." Yugi said before the Living Arrow took effect and sent the Tribute to The Doomed attack at Zera before the attack destroyed him!
"No! Zera!" Possessed Keith said with shock.
But Yami Bakura was amused by this. 'Fascinating. It appears the Shadow game energy my Ring is detecting are within Yugi's opponent. Bandit Keith is just a puppet, under the control of an evil master. Well, this puppet show is over, for I alone shall possess the Millennium Puzzle.' He thought before using his Ring's power. "Ring, sever the strings that bind this man. Free his mind from the Shadow Realm."
The MillenniumRing did just that, freeing Keith as his eyes widened in surprise.
But the man possessing Keith dropped his Millenniumitem briefly before catching it as he felt his control over Keith break. 'What happened? My Millennium spell over Keith has been broken. But how? Only another Millennium item can sever a connection so strong.'
"Where am I? And what on earth am I wearing?" Keith asked with shock.
But Yugi, still thinking that Keith was still under mind control, told him. "It looks like your so-called unbeatable Zera the Mant card is ancient history. Now it's time to win this duel once and for all and take back my Millennium Puzzle."
Yugi Moto? What time are you doing here?" Keith asked with confusion before he was attacked by the man who possessed him.
"Bandit Keith, you're back." Yugi said as he noticed that the real Bandit Keith was free of mind control.
But the man who possessed Keith was trying to take back control of him using his Millennium item. "Keith, your resistance is pathetic. You belong to me now, so pick up those cards and win me that puzzle like a good mind slave."
"There's someone inside my head!"
"Shut up and duel!"
As Yugi noticed this, Keith told the voice in his head. "GO AWAAAY!"
"Bandit Keith, who is it that's trying to control your mind?" Yugi asked his opponent.
The mysterious man was still trying to regain control of Keith with his Millennium item as he spoke mentally. 'I must regain control over this fool. Whoever is weakening my control must also be after the Millennium Puzzle. I will not allow someone else to TAKE WHAT SHOULD BE RIGHTFULLY MINE!'
But Keith was back under the mysterious man's control again before the possessed duelist jumped down from his side of the arena and ran to the Millennium Puzzle before grabbing it. "I'm back. But before I lose complete control, I've got to destroy it. If I can't have this puzzle, no 1 can!"
"Keith, wait! No!" Yugi yelled out…before Keith shattered the Millennium Puzzle by bringing it hard into the dueling platform! "NOOOOOO!"
"Perfect! Now no 1 else will take my prize." The man said with an evil smile while Keith still struggled to get his voice out of his head.
But suddenly, Bakura swung down. "That's quite enough of that." He said before knocking Keith off the dueling arena.
Yugi jumped down and asked. "Where did you come from?"
"Hi, Yugi. Tea and Mai told me what happened." Bakura answered before picking up the Millennium Puzzle pieces. "Oh my, Keith certainly did a number on your Millennium Puzzle, didn't he? Well, better shattered than stolen, I suppose."
Yugi took the pieces and said with a smile. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It took me forever to put it together the 1st time, but at least I have a chance to try." Before he looked at the hanging piece. "Who knows, since I did it once already, it should be easier."
But unknown to Yugi, Yami Bakura was speaking mentally inside his host while secretly holding a piece of the puzzle behind his back. 'And once you've completed it, I'll be there to take it away. But to ensure that no 1 stands in my way again, I'll need to…minipulate a piece of the puzzle. Yugi, you're such a naive fool. You have no idea of the ancient powers the puzzle contains within: magical powers that vwhen combined with the other 6 Millennium items are so incredible, whoever possesses them shall rule the world. Powers that will soon belong to me once I collect all the Millennium items 1 by 1. My Millennium Ring will track them all down so I can unlock the mystical energies that were imprisoned in these objects long ago in the age of the Shadow Games. Hahahaha. The Pharaoh and all of his loyal minions thought that they could banish the power forever by deviding it up among the Millennium items and hiding them away, but the time has come to claim them all for myself, and the Millennium Puzzle is no exception.' But then, he saw something in his memories: glimpse of 2 females that looked similar to…Tea and Mai. 'What? Who are they? Perhaps they were 2 more of the Pharaoh's followers from 5,000 years ago?' He wondered, but quickly put it out of his dark and evil mind. 'Ah, it doesn't matter who they were, they're long dead, so they are no threat to my goal.' He said mentally before telling his Millennium Ring. 'Ring, transfer a portion of my spirit into this piece of the Puzzle, so that I will be forever near its ultimate power.' Before the Ring did just that. 'Hahahahahahahaha. Unbeknownst to Yugi, a part of me will be infused within the puzzle. And from this 1 piece, I'll be able to explore the inner chambers of its mystic Millennium components, and 1 day soon, claim them for myself.'
Bakura, still under the evil spirit's influence, walked up to Yugi and reached his hand out to him. "Yugi, you've missed this 1 piece." Before he gave him the piece.
"Oh thanks a lot, Bakura. The last thing I need is to lose a piece of the Millennium Puzzle." Yugi said with a smile.
"Ha. Yes, I know. You can't complete it without them all." Bakura said before getting off the dueling arena.
"Thanks again, you totally saved the day." Yugi said with a smile, not knowing that it was the evil Yami Bakura who helped him for his own evil goals.
"Sure. I've got to get back to school."
"I'll be right behind you, Bakura, as soon as I unhook my chain." Yugi called out while Yami Yugi smiled evilly as he walked away.
But as Yugi went to unhook the chain, the man that possessed Keith spoke inside his head. "Rise, you worthless buffoon. It seems the duel is not yet done. You could still win the match and claim my Millennium prize."
But Keith was driven completely mad by this point. "Stop! Stop talking to me!" He yelled before picking up a nearby metal bar and swinging it around in random directions. "Where are you! Show yourself!"
"Obey me and duel!"
Yugi saw this and tried to stop him. "Keith, stop! No!"
But it fell on deaf ears as Keith continued to swing the bar around, unintentionally hitting the control box to the Duel platform, and starting a chain reaction that began setting the warehouse on fire as split wires hit gasoline containers!
Meanwhile
The lover duelists, Joey and Tristan were still following the switched around arrows to search for Yugi, but it was proving useless. "Yugi! Yugi! Where are you, buddy?"
"This is ridiculous already!" Tristan said with frustration.
"Yeah. Someone's playing us for suckers." Joey said with equal frustration.
Mai held Tea close to her as they stopped to catch their breath. "These arrows are like a giant maze."
But then Mai saw smoke in the distance. "Guys, check it out. There's smoke in the distance. And where there's smoke, there's fire."
"Yeah. Someone may need our help." Tristan said.
Back with Yugi
The boy duelist was trying to get his Millennium Puzzle as the fire began to spread. "Oh no. I've got to get my puzzle down and get out of here!" He said before trying to get it off the platform, but he couldn't even budge it. "It's no use, the chain's just too strong. And this fire is spreading really fast." He said before he saw that the flames were blocking the windows. "I can't get out those windows. It could be all over for me and the spirit of the puzzle!"
Meanwhile, outside
The lesbian duelists, Joey and Tristan got to the warehouse and heard someone call out for help. "Hang in there! We'll find a way to help you!" Mai yelled out.
"Me and Joey will go in, Tea. You and Mai call 9-1-1." Tristan told his friend.
"We're on it." Tea said before she and her girlfriend/lover ran to call 9-1-1. "Be careful, you guys." And when Tristan tried to open the door, he felt the handle bar was very hot before Joey tried to kick the door down.
Back inside
Yugi was quickly trying to put the Millennium Puzzle back together. "Come on, fit, fit. I've got to finish the puzzle. I'm the only 1 who knows how to solve it. My time's running out and this fire's getting bigger by the second. Focus! If I solve the puzzle, I save the spirit. Even if I don't make it out, at least he will. Come on." He said as he was quickly putting the pieces back together. ",Just a few more. I think I've almost got it figured out."
Back outside
Joey and Tristan were trying to break down the door but couldn't after 2 times. "Tristan, you're knocking that door like a girl scout. Come on, hit it hard!" Joey said before they both tried again with all their combined strength and successfully broke down the door.
"Anyone here?" Tristan called out.
That was when a very frightened Bandit Keith ran out of the warehouse. This place is haunted!" He screamed before running away.
"Tristan, did we just rescue Bandit Keith?" Joey asked.
"No way!"
"Forget him, let's make sure no 1 else is in trouble."
"Right, Joey."
They then began to carefully go through the burning building and quickly saw Yugi. "Yugi." Joey called out to his best friend.
"Yugi, what are you doing?!" Tristan asked.
"Let's go!"
Yugi looked at his friends and told them. "I can't leave yet, guys! I've got to finish putting together the Millennium Puzzle!"
"All this smoke's gone to his brain." Tristan said before he and Joey ran up to their friend.
Yugi then put the last piece of the puzzle together, completing it at last. "Yes, finished!" He said before getting dizzy from the flames and smoke.
Joey and Tristan got on the dueling arena and ran up to Yugi. "Yugi, you okay?"
"Come on, we gotta get outta here fast!" Tristan added.
"My puzzle…Can't leave…without my puzzle." Yugi said.
"All right." Tristan said. "Let's do this, Joey."
As they tried to pull the Millennium Puzzle down, Joey said to Tristan. "You go grab Yugi's deck."
Meanwhile
After Tea and Mai called 9-1-1, they ran back to the burning warehouse. "Tristan! Joey, can you hear us?!"
"Guys! Can you hear us?!" Mai called out. "Hurry and get out of there! That fire is spreading!"
Back inside
After Tristan quickly grabbed Yugi's deck, he jumped back down. "Joey, I got Yugi's deck. Any luck with that puzzle?"
"Afraid not." Joey answered as he struggled with the chain. "Man, why'd he hook it to such a thick chain?" As they still tried, they couldn't get the Millennium Puzzle free. "It's no use, bud!"
"Come on, Yugi, it's time to go!" Tristan said to his friend.
But then Joey saw the split in half metal bar and picked it up. Tristan, I got an idea! Let's put the bar in the hole and yank it free."
"Right!" Tristan said before they did just that, putting the bar in the hanging hook and yanking it with their combined strength, finally getting the puzzle free before they ran out of the burning warehouse with Yugi and the Millennium Puzzle as the fire department finally got there and were trying to put out the fire, much to Tea and Mai's great relief.
Later, at the hospital
Yugi, in a hospital bed, was holding the Millennium Puzzle in his hands after he told his friends about what happened. "Well, the puzzle's safe and sound."
"Yeah. So are you, Yuge." Joey said with a smile.
"How can I ever thank you guys for saving my life back there?" Yugi asked. You put yourselves in danger just so I would be okay. You're the greatest friends a guy could ever have."
And while Joey and Tristan got into a little bit of a friendly argument about who did what, Mai gently pulled Tea outside of the room and held her close. "Tea, are you getting the same feeling that I am?"
Tea kissed Mai and answered. "Yeah. Someone's after Yugi's Millennium Puzzle. And because of that, he almost died today. Ever since Yugi 1st put that puzzle together and bonded with the spirit inside, everyone's been trying to get their hands on it. But something tells me this time, we're in more danger than ever and I know we haven't seen the last of whoever it is that's after Yugi."
"Well, we'll just have to stick together, baby. And I promise to protect all of you no matter what, especially you, baby, because while Yugi and the others are my friends, you are the most precious and beautiful person in the world that matters to me."
Tea looked at Mai with love and smiled. "Oh baby, I love you. I…love you so much." She said softly before they passionately and lovingly kissed.
There you go, my dear friends, the 1st part of the Battle City arc has finally begun, which will have many plot twists and very big surprises in store, especially with Tea, who will have a much bigger role than in canon since she's a full-time duelist now, and Mai, who's role will also be much bigger, especially with parts involving Tea. The next chapter will come after some of my other projects are updated. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Rate and review and I'll see you all next time, my dear friends.